Doing a tour into the Amazon in Ecuador is a highlight of a backpacking trip around Ecuador!

A visit to the Amazon rainforest is a must-do in South America. I was thinking a lot about the different options and countries to do a tour into the Amazon rainforest. Finally, I decided on an Amazon tour in Ecuador. The reason why I decided to visit the Amazon in Ecuador was the relatively short travel distance (“only” one 8-hour night bus, no flights needed); and the reasonable cost. I don’t regret my decision and the Ecuador Amazon tour was definitely one of my highlights backpacking Ecuador!

I will tell you everything you need to know about how to plan and organize a tour into the Amazon in Ecuador.

Sunset in the Amazon in Ecuador

Organization of your Amazon tour in Ecuador

I booked my Amazon tour directly at my hostel in Quito (Community Hostel). I paid 260$ for 4 days including basic lodging, guides, and food. In order to get to the Cuyabeno reserve, I had to get first to the city Nueva Loja on the edge of the rainforest. My tour operator offered a private tourist bus for 20$ one way from Quito to Nueva Loja and while I could have taken a public night bus for slightly less, I chose the safer and more convenient option.

There’s also the option to get a public bus to Nueva Loja, get to the drop-off point on your own and ask tour operators when they arrive if they would have some free spots in the lodge in order to join a tour spontaneously. I’ve seen two girls who succeeded, BUT it’s not very common. Therefore there’s a risk that tours might be not available last-minute. These two girls managed to pay around 40$ less than me, but in my opinion, this slight discount isn’t worth the risk and the hassle.

The Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador

How to get into the Amazon in Ecuador on your tour & where to stay

On the canoe in the Amazon

Departure in Quito was around11 pm and arrival in Nueva Loja around 7 am. We got dropped off at a hotel where we could get some breakfast, before lodge operators picked us up around 9:30 am. After another 2-3-hour drive, we changed transport from minivan to boat and got transported in a small canoe deep into the rainforest; until we arrived at our lodge right in time for lunch.

Our lodge was nice and relaxing, directly in the rainforest and only accessible by boat. Food was excellent with big portions and beds were basic but fine. Just don’t expect any hot water, wifi or phone signal! Electrical supply comes solely from solar panels and there was a public charging station which worked a couple of hours every day. But electricity was rare and lights turned off at 10 pm.

My lodge in the Amazon in Ecuador

My experience on the Amazon tour in Ecuador

During the next 4 days, we had all kinds of different activities. We drove around by boat, went for an evening sunset swim in a lagoon, visited a local village and a shaman (big tourist trap, but part of all the tours), did bird watching, kayaked through the river system and went for a day walk and a night walk. Between the activities, there was always enough time to relax and to chill in the hammocks at the lodge.

We’ve seen plenty of animals during these days; all types of huge spiders, snakes (even an Anaconda in the water), caimans, sloths, frogs and plenty of different monkeys and birds. During lunch in the local village, we even discovered a huge tarantula in the sand right next to our feet. On the next day during dinner in our lodge, another huge tarantula watched us from the ceiling. The scariest part was hands down the night walk, were I’ve seen tons of insects and different types of huge, poisonous spiders! – did I mention that I have arachnophobia?

On the last day, the boat brought us back to civilization, and a van drove us back to town. We got dropped off at the (deserted) airport, and after some waiting got eventually picked up by the private bus which took us back to Quito.

Visit at a local village

My résumé about the Amazon tour in Ecuador

I had a great time exploring the Amazon rainforest. However, you need to be prepared for a lot of wildlife and insects. You also need to disconnect from the outside world due to the lack of electricity and service. If that’s cool for your, definitely include an Amazon tour in your journey backpacking Ecuador!

Comments

Glad you enjoyed your trip! I just returned from an Ecuador Amazon trip last week, and had a great time as well. The amount of wildlife everywhere you look is just amazing. I’m jealous you saw an anaconda though!

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Patrick

I’m happy that you’re here! I’m Patrick, a world traveler and business student from Germany. Over the last few years, I took every opportunity during my studies to travel the world. So far I’ve already been to more than 50 countries.